The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been working in Kenya for more than a decade, providing essential services to tens of thousands of refugees who’ve fled conflicts in neighboring countries like Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia.  We assist Kenyan communities who host refugees, as well as those affected by the post-election violence in late 2007.

The IRC is one of the largest providers of humanitarian aid at Kakuma refugee camp, which lies in the drought-prone Greater Turkana region of northern Kenya.  The camp was established in 1992 as a haven for the “Lost Boys” of Sudan. It now houses about 53,000 refugees from nine nations, the majority of whom are Sudanese. 

The IRC provides essential services such as health care and safe sanitation for both refugees and the local population. We run education programs to help refugees prepare for repatriation, and we offer a comprehensive HIV/AIDS awareness and testing program across Greater Turkana.

In Nairobi, the IRC helps refugee women’s groups to access legal advice, education and small business grants, as well as advocating for refugee rights and raising awareness about the Refugees Act 2006.

Since early 2008, we have also supported communities affected by the violence that followed presidential elections in December 2008. We’ve provided more than 30,000 people with clean water, safe sanitation, education, protection and measures to combat gender-based violence.

Voices from the Field: The IRC's Joanne Offer in northen Kenya.